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The Bug Geek
Insects. Doing Science. Other awesome, geeky stuff.
Post-hoc Moth Week: Day 5
Posted by on August 3, 2012
NMW Day five! Both of today’s moths are found nearly continent-wide but they differ in their feeding habits.
This one is a subtle beauty…pale and soft but also regal. It’s a White Speck, Mythimna unipuncta, also called the Armyworm moth. The caterpillars are generalists, feeding on many kinds of crops, veggies and other plants – it can be quite pesty, actually. It’s a common and widespread moth, found everywhere in North America but the arctic Canadian Territories and Alaska.
White Speck (Mythimna unipuncta) #10438
Next up is the Common Gluphisia, Gluphisia septentrionis. This one is known to occur everywhere except Nunavut and the Northwest Territories – talk about a range! Unlike the White Speck, however, it is a specialist feeder, preferring Poplar (Populus spp.) as its host.
Common Gluphisia (Gluphisia septentrionis) #7931
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Mythimna unipuncta was so plentiful this year it is ridiculous….wonderfully so. I have one in a jar with me as I type this that I found in my house about an hour or so ago.
Beautiful moths indeed. Gluphisia septentrionis I’ve yet to see. I’m hoping to observe one. Gorgeous findings and photos.
Even though I’ve never tried IDing my backyard moths until this summer, I’m pretty sure I’ve never seen the Gluphisia before – the overall body shape and wing pattern seemed quite new to me. Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
We had a Mythimna oxygala come to our black light last week. Elegant in its simplicity, even if it is a pest.
They are very pretty moths, indeed.
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